Trekking the Chariots of Fire: Catalan Pyrenees

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Overview

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Trekking Carros de Foc was the most difficult goal I've ever accomplished. Finishing the trek gets you a T-shirt exclusively given to only those who complete the loop. But after getting lost and finding our way twice, we just wanted to get out of there alive and be able to live with ourselves afterward.Quick Tips: 1. Pack lightly. A good pair of hiking boots and wool socks that absorb moisture are absolutely necessary. Things I was glad I packed: water purification drops, a Camelback, Gatorade powder, Swiss army knife, Advil, and toddler wipes. Booking through Carros de Foc includes a bunk bed, dinner, breakfast, and a packed lunch from the refuges.2. Only a few of the refuge staff ...Read More

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Carros de Foc

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Attraction

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Catalan for 'chariots of fire', Carros de Foc was created by nature enthusiasts to connect the nine refuges inside and around the Aiguestortes National Park and Lake Sant Maurici on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees.The ‘open’ category is for anyone who is adventurous enough to hike the terrain and follow their itinerary in however many days one wishes—in our case, 7 days. (The ‘skyrunner’ is the competitive race and the record is currently at 11 hours!) Each stop at a refuge earns you a stamp on your ‘forfait,’ or your hiking passport. Ten stamps—the last stamp is the same as the first which signifies that you’ve completed the loop—earns you a Carros de Foc T-shirt, exclusively given to only...Read More

Catalan for 'chariots of fire', Carros de Foc was created by nature enthusiasts to connect the nine refuges inside and around the Aiguestortes National Park and Lake Sant Maurici on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees.

The ‘open’ category is for anyone who is adventurous enough to hike the terrain and follow their itinerary in however many days one wishes—in our case, 7 days. (The ‘skyrunner’ is the competitive race and the record is currently at 11 hours!) Each stop at a refuge earns you a stamp on your ‘forfait,’ or your hiking passport. Ten stamps—the last stamp is the same as the first which signifies that you’ve completed the loop—earns you a Carros de Foc T-shirt, exclusively given to only those who finish. I wanted that T-shirt badly.

Booking via carrosdefoc.com includes a bunk bed in each refuge, dinner when you arrive, breakfast in the morning, and a packed lunch for your next trek. Expect to pay about €500 for two people. [See my separate entry about the refuges.] From the United States, you can wire your deposit and pay the rest at their office in Vielha. The town of Vielha is a 6-hour bus ride from Barcelona. A cab ride from the main street will take you to the foot of the mountains where you can begin your hike to the first refuge.

It’s fulfilling to make the loop and finish the trek but it was also the most difficult and scariest thing I’ve ever done in my life. We hiked, trudged, and climbed our way in the intense sun, howling winds, striking hail, pouring rain, and blinding snow. The hiking season runs from June to September but Mother Nature toyed with our heads and gave us the ultimate test by throwing us all kinds of weather in a week’s time.

There is no official Carros de Foc trail markers, only the national park’s yellow posts, red and white painted stripes on rocks, and the occasional piles of stones were our guide. The map they provided when we began our hike is extremely necessary and useful. It shows the trail’s elevation change from refuge to refuge plus different routes for other options and emergencies. An emergency response system was not made clear to us but we later learned that the refuges talk to each other by radio to make sure that hikers arrive safely. An English version of their official travel guide is scheduled to be published in 2007. I am sure that they will have to begin drafting contracts if they want to market to American hikers but I hope the trek will remain rustic and challenging as I’ve experienced.

We got lost not once but twice, a daunting ordeal when one is wet and cold but we made it out alive. After over 35 miles by foot and close to 8,000 feet of earth, stones, boulders and trees, I am now the owner of a T-shirt I feel very proud of. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on September 24, 2006

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Staying in the Refuges of the Carros de Foc Route

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Story/Tip

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The Carros de Foc trail connects nine refuges in and around the Aiguestortes National Park and Lake Sant Maurici on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees for all hiking enthusiasts to enjoy. The refuges are all very basic because most of them do not have road access to and from the nearest town. All of them have bunk beds outfitted with mattresses—sometimes 10 in one row—meatless pillows and thick wool blankets. During the high season, there are more than 40 people sleeping in small rooms, something to consider if you are used to sleeping in nice hotels. With the exception of Colomers, which only had a hole outside tunneling down to the lake, all the refuges have at least one toilet stall and a sho...Read More

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